PANAMA CITY — Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart began the orderly evacuation of more than 200 patients to hospitals outside the area affected by Hurricane Michael early Thursday morning.

The hospital sustained roof, structural and water damage during the hurricane on Wednesday, and a section of the roof collapsed in the hospital's materials management building, compromising a significant store of supplies needed to sustain care over the long-term.

Panama City resident Albert Singleton picks his way down a derby-strewn sidewalk his way back to the house that he and his cousin shared in Panama City. Hurricane Michael tore off the roof and front porch.
Oct. 11, 2018; Denver, CO USA; xxx Mandatory credit: Trevor Hughes-USA TODAY NETWORK Trevor Hughes, Trevor Hughes-USA TODAY NETWORK

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, and generated winds of up to 155 mph. Many Panama City homes and businesses received heavy structural and roof damage. Brandon Girod/cgirod@pnj.com

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 11: Gavin Conklin, 17, gathers water bottles from a neighbor's refrigerator after Hurricane Michael destroyed the home on October 11, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Damaged boats and cars are seen in a marina after Hurricane Michael October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. - Michael slammed into the Florida coast on October 10 as the most powerful storm to hit the southern US state in more than a century as officials warned it could wreak "unimaginable devastation." Michael made landfall as a Category 4 storm near Mexico Beach, a town about 20 miles (32kms) southeast of Panama City, around 1:00 pm Eastern time (1700 GMT), the National Hurricane Center said. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AFP/Getty Images

TOPSHOT - A man walks down the street after Hurricane Michael made landfall on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. - Michael slammed into the Florida coast on October 10 as the most powerful storm to hit the southern US state in more than a century as officials warned it could wreak "unimaginable devastation." Michael made landfall as a Category 4 storm near Mexico Beach, a town about 20 miles (32kms) southeast of Panama City, around 1:00 pm Eastern time (1700 GMT), the National Hurricane Center said. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AFP/Getty Images

TOPSHOT - Storm damage is seen after Hurricane Michael in Panama City, Florida on October 10, 2018. - Michael slammed into the Florida coast on October 10 as the most powerful storm to hit the southern US state in more than a century as officials warned it could wreak "unimaginable devastation." Michael made landfall as a Category 4 storm near Mexico Beach, a town about 20 miles (32kms) southeast of Panama City, around 1:00 pm Eastern time (1700 GMT), the National Hurricane Center said. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AFP/Getty Images

A view of storm damage during Hurricane Michael October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. - Michael slammed into the Florida coast on October 10 as the most powerful storm to hit the southern US state in more than a century as officials warned it could wreak "unimaginable devastation." Michael made landfall as a Category 4 storm near Mexico Beach, a town about 20 miles (32kms) southeast of Panama City, around 1:00 pm Eastern time (1700 GMT), the National Hurricane Center said. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AFP/Getty Images

PANAMA CITY, FL - OCTOBER 10: A damaged home is seen after hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

PANAMA CITY, FL - OCTOBER 10: Broken awnings are seen after hurricane Michael passed through the downtown area on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

A woman crosses a flooded street after Hurricane Michael made landfall on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. - Michael slammed into the Florida coast on October 10 as the most powerful storm to hit the southern US state in more than a century as officials warned it could wreak "unimaginable devastation." Michael made landfall as a Category 4 storm near Mexico Beach, a town about 20 miles (32kms) southeast of Panama City, around 1:00 pm Eastern time (1700 GMT), the National Hurricane Center said. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AFP/Getty Images

A car sits in a flooded parking lot outside a hotel in Panama City Beach, Florida, in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael on October 11, 2018. - Residents of the Florida Panhandle woke to scenes of devastation Thursday after Michael tore a path through the coastal region as a powerful hurricane that killed at least two people. EMILY KASK, AFP/Getty Images

PANAMA CITY, FL - OCTOBER 10: Boats that were docked are seen in a pile of rubble after hurricane Michael passed through the downtown area on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

PANAMA CITY, FL - OCTOBER 10: Downed powerlines are seen after hurricane Michael passed through the downtown area on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

PANAMA CITY, FL - OCTOBER 10: A tree lays on a home and car after hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

PANAMA CITY, FL - OCTOBER 10: Haley Nelson stands in front of what is left of one of her fathers trailer homes after hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

PANAMA CITY, FL - OCTOBER 10: Phlomena Telker stands on what was her covered porch after hurricane Michael tore the roof of her home as it passed through the area on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

A boarded up tourist shop in Panama City Beach, Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael on October 11, 2018. - Residents of the Florida Panhandle woke to scenes of devastation Thursday after Michael tore a path through the coastal region as a powerful hurricane that killed at least two people. EMILY KASK, AFP/Getty Images

Hospital staff were working to transport 209 patients in total, including 39 intensive care patients who were expected to be transferred first. Patients will be transferred to Ascension hospitals in Pensacola and Jacksonville, Florida, and Mobile, Alabama. Providence Hospital in Mobile, Alabama, St. Vincent Hospital in Jacksonville and Sacred Heart on the Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach are all also available to accept patients.

Evacuation is expected to be complete within 48 hours.

Tyra Palmer, senior vice president at Ardent Health Services, said crews worked through the night to clear roadways around the hospital, and by 3 a.m., 13 ambulance crews had started transporting patients.

The hospital’s emergency department remains open, and Palmer said Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart planned to open its free-standing emergency room on Panama City Beach on Friday.

Palmer said patients at both locations would be admitted, triaged, treated or transferred as necessary. She also said people seeking information on their loved ones’ status and location should call 888-627-4568.

She described the evacuation as a "heroic" effort made possible by the dedication of first responders and the hospital’s teams on the ground.

“They’re working in very difficult conditions and placing our patients above their own personal situations,” Palmer said.

Palmer said as of about 3 p.m. Thursday, 48 patients had been transferred to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, which received word Wednesday night that it would be taking in evacuated patients.

"We were aware last night that an evacuation was going to take place from Panama City," said Pensacola Sacred Heart Hospital spokesman Mike Burke. "So we geared up last night to prepare for this."

To accommodate the evacuated patients, the hospital asked Pensacola area residents with minor injuries and illnesses to check in to Sacred Heart's Urgent Care Centers or visit other primary care providers in the community to avoid inundating Sacred Heart's emergency department.

"We have two urgent care centers in the area, there's primary care doctors, clinics within Walgreen's stores," Burke said. "So there are other options for people with less serious illnesses."

Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart was receiving support securing beds and arranging air and ground medical transportation from the State Emergency Operations Center, Emergency Management Services from the Florida Hospital Association, the Hospital Corporation of America and the governor’s office.

The hospital provided shelter throughout the storm to employee and physician families and pets, as well as large numbers of first responders. More than 1,500 people, in addition to patients, were sheltered at Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart.